Now That the Pope Is Dead, What About the African cardinals.

With the passing of Pope Francis, I’ve been seeing a lot of people asking the same question online and in conversations: “Will the next Pope be African?”

It’s a powerful question, especially for us Africans who’ve long felt overlooked in conversations about global leadership even in the Church, where we have some of the fastest-growing Catholic populations. But here’s something I’ve realized that most people don’t even know:

We’ve already had African Popes. Three of them.

Not recently, of course. But go far enough back, and you’ll find that Africa particularly North Africa played a major role in shaping the early Church. These weren’t symbolic figures. They were bold, spiritual leaders who left deep marks on Christianity as we know it.

Pope Victor I came from what is now Libya or Tunisia. He became Pope in the year 189 yeah, way back. He made big changes: he set Easter to always be celebrated on a Sunday, made Latin the Church’s official language, and took a firm stand on key issues of the faith. Imagine the courage it took to lead like that during the Roman Empire.

Then there’s Pope Miltiades, who stepped in during one of the most critical times in Church history. He was Pope when Emperor Constantine came into power and legalized Christianity. That alone changed everything. Miltiades was also the first Pope to live in what’s now known as the Lateran Palace the Pope’s first official home, a gift from the emperor. And he stood for unity, forbidding fasting on Sundays to honor Christ’s resurrection. That’s deep.

And finally, Pope Gelasius I. His parents were African, and he ruled during the crumbling of the Roman Empire. But even in chaos, he was a rock. He was the first to be called “Vicar of Christ,” and he made it clear that spiritual authority didn’t belong to emperors it came from God. During a famine in Rome, he even gave from his own resources to feed the hungry.

These were real men. African men. And they weren’t tokens or footnotes they were foundational.
So when someone asks me, “When are we going to have an African Pope?” I say this: We already did. And they were powerful.

Africa isn’t waiting to be included in the story of the Church. We’ve been here. We’ve helped build it. And maybe just maybe it’s time the world remembered that.

Now, as we wait for the next leader to be chosen, I pray the Church listens to the Spirit. Whether the next Pope is African or not, I just hope he leads with strength, wisdom, and the heart of Christ.

But still… Africa is ready. We’ve always been ready.